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Discrimination on the NHS

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
DiabeticDave

DiabeticDave

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Seen the nurse today, waste of another 30 minutes of my life. Where to start!!

I felt it was a wasted exercise, no tests, just a talk/lecture on 'do I know why I have diabetes', needless to say I told her🙄

Not entitled to test strips or lancets, or sharps container, or free prescriptions😡. It appears that I'm only entitled to these items, if I am put on Insulin..........Discrimination I say.........😡

Feel free to complain officially, sayeth my caring nurse, who's wages I ably assist in paying....yes you are entitled to look at another practice, but they will all tell you the same..................OK then, come back and see me again in 3 weeks, and we will do some tests, book a 20 minute appointment😡
 
Arlene-Medical Practice

Hi Dave,
Thought I'll go and read Dave's message-and it left me reading it over again-just to make sure I'd read it the correct way-had no idea at all that its not made a lot easier for you for all the things you need.I'd feel the same way-so I'm sending this to let you know!

Arlene
 
Understandably you feel really peed off about that too, how blimmin annoying. I too would feel that way. It is not fair that you are made to feel this way about your diabetes, it seems as if the tone taken was a punishing one. A productive consultation should leave you feeling empowered that you get on with your diabetes and be constructive about the best ways to tackle it. I am sorry this has happened.

I am not very good at advice, perhaps more of a sympathetic ear! But my thoughts are that you have seen a practise nurse and if there is the possibility of being referred to the local hospital diabetic care clinic then jump at it.

I have commented before on someone elses thread about the experiences of type 2's in their NHS care and prescriptions etc. It annoys me no end and I am sure someone will contribute on this thread offering you some proper advice about pro-active ways to tackle this.

All the best Diabeticdave, and dont let the ******* get you down x
 
I am so very sorry to hear of your plight.

I feel guilty that my care is so good by comparison. I can only suggest you write to your MP and complain. That is what I did 8 years ago when I was first diagnosed and things were not great. This coincided with major changes to the diabetic care regime introduced by the Scottish government - the change has been magnificent.

The other suggestion I can offer is that you write to Diabetic UK tell them your plight and ask for a definitive answer as to the exact rules..

Our health is important - I wish you every success in trying to overcome this problem.

Hazel
 
Dave, have a look at the Type 2 diabetes guidelines on www.nice.org.uk - these are what all NHS staff are required to follow - the guidelines will certainly help if you decide to make a formal complaint firstly to the practice and from then to the PCT. You need to read the full summary ones and not just the ones aimed at the public

You are entitled to free prescriptions if you are prescribed any form of medication for your diabetes, not just insulin. However, there has been some concern that us Type 2s are too readily put on pills rather than giving us a chance to see if healthy diet, exercise and weight loss helps so that could be why you have 3 weeks before more tests
 
Dave please read the NICE guidelines, also take a copy into your GP not the nurse.
Explain to your GP that you wish to have test strips because you want to find out what foods effect your numbers.
 
yea dave speak up , there so good at saying you cant have this you cant have that grr gets us all so mad 😡😡
 
Type1_Sue said:
Dave please read the NICE guidelines, also take a copy into your GP not the nurse.
Explain to your GP that you wish to have test strips because you want to find out what foods effect your numbers.
Click to expand...


Thanks guys......still fuming. The strips and lancets really got me going. Not entitled to free ones...as...'we recommend that you don't test your own blood, when on diet and exercise'. I replied that 'how can I see what affects my GL', to be told, that they see no need. Was told they advice urine tests, I explained that they were not accurate to determine rise and fall of GL. I have not booked a return yet, I will read up on this, then the wrath of Dave will descend on the surgery😉
 
yea to right dave good luck with it all x
 
Vanessa..Sue, thanks, I think That you have already given me a stick to beat them with.............TallyHooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
 
DiabeticDave said:
Vanessa..Sue, thanks, I think That you have already given me a stick to beat them with.............TallyHooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Glad to be of help! Just love it when you can use their own guidelines against 'em - also helps demonstrate that you are really prepared to do your homework too
 
Hi Dave. You are intitled to free prescriptions sureley? so all these items are on prescription ask the Doctor, I would. It's outragous that you have been told you are not intitled to free ones. So go for it and chalange your practice.
I get EVERYTHING FREE on prescription.
________
Milf live
 
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carolyn said:
Hi Dave. You are intitled to free prescriptions sureley? so all these items are on prescription ask the Doctor, I would. It's outragous that you have been told you are not intitled to free ones. So go for it and chalange your practice.
I get EVERYTHING FREE on prescription.
Click to expand...

Accordingly, I am only entitled to free precriptions, if I take anything for my diabetes.....but as I'm trying to control it through diet and exercise, I'm entitled to nothing, that includes test strips and lancets😡...so yes, I will be taking them to task over this, then my area health authority, then my local MP.😡
 
DiabeticDave said:
Accordingly, I am only entitled to free precriptions, if I take anything for my diabetes.....but as I'm trying to control it through diet and exercise, I'm entitled to nothing, that includes test strips and lancets😡...so yes, I will be taking them to task over this, then my area health authority, then my local MP.😡
Click to expand...

It has always been diet and exercise no free prescriptions. Which I think is fair.
But you should be entitled to have test strips on prescriptions whether you pay for them or not. It's your life and limbs not the Dr's or nurses.
 
i was always lead to believe that if you where diet control and exercise you are not entitled to FREE prescriptions, i remember somewhere it saying on a form i had to fill in only tick this box if you are taking any medication for diabetes if your on diet control alone you are not entitled
 
Yes, like Sue says you might have to pay the prescription charge - but that is considerably less than the full cost of a box of strips and the doctor should prescibe some at least. If 'diet and exercise' are the two components of your route to better health then it is relatively straightforward to measure the exercise - but how do you measure the effects of diet if you can't test?:confused:

Good luck Dave.
 
Strikes me there is a lot of discrimination in the NHS. If you were on any kind of medication for the diabetes, your GP would be paid to look after you, so there would be less of a problem getting the things you need to look afte yourself with.

As a side issue, but one that is just as important, I was reading about the age limit for testing for cervical and breast cancer on the NHS, and if your below a certain age, it is almost impossible to get done, even with a family history.
 
there are a lot of things the nhs will not test for. my family has a high rate of cancer in it (both males and females have died from breast cancer) and when my sister found a lump she was told it was just a cyst and it would go. she went back 3 weeks later as it had gotten bigger and saw a different gp who put her onto the emergency list for a scan which picked up she had a lump that wasnt fibrous or a cyst. she went for test and a biopsy and it turn out she was in the early stages of breats cancer. she has now luckily had the lump removed and after a short course of chemo has fully recovered. it smacks of s**t as i know another family who have a low risk (i know they have had 1 person in the family have breats cancer) and the lady and her daughter both had a masectomy (think its the right way to spell it. meens breast removal) on the nhs!!!!!!!!

also dont get me started over prescriptions for different people as i have some very strong views over this.

if i were you dave i would defo get the doctor to prescribe them as it is cheaper than paying full price for them.
 
DiabeticDave said:
Seen the nurse today, waste of another 30 minutes of my life. Where to start!!

I felt it was a wasted exercise, no tests, just a talk/lecture on 'do I know why I have diabetes', needless to say I told her🙄

Not entitled to test strips or lancets, or sharps container, or free prescriptions😡. It appears that I'm only entitled to these items, if I am put on Insulin..........Discrimination I say.........😡

Feel free to complain officially, sayeth my caring nurse, who's wages I ably assist in paying....yes you are entitled to look at another practice, but they will all tell you the same..................OK then, come back and see me again in 3 weeks, and we will do some tests, book a 20 minute appointment😡
Click to expand...

I initially had the same problem Dave.

The first doctor I saw at my surgery was adament not to prescribe strips or a sharps box.

However I went to see another doctor and took my meter and diary with me showing my BG readings since high BG was detected at the hospital by accident when I had a pre op assesment.

She saw the trends where I had 11+ readings at diagnosis and 15+ in the following few days when I carried on as normal. Then I cut out all the obvious naughty things like sugar in drinks and big meals and puddings and my readings reduced back to 11+.

I said I went on Metformin after complaining about being constantly tired (and that as a professional driver and if the tiredness continued and I had an accident in the large vehicle I drive I would place liability on the doctor) and on 1 a day readings reduced a little then on 2 a day readings dropped to between 5 and 6 in the mornings and 4-5 in in the evening after (a brisk home from) work.

I told her I was ignoring spikes like 11.9 the morning after a kebab but these readings were educating me to avoid certain foods and take more exercise.

I also asked to go on a stop smoking course.

I also showed that I am losing weight and my blood pressure is reducing and I didn't want diabetic complicatons.

On the free prescriptions issue you won't get these until you are on medication (eg Metformin).

Perhaps you could find a diabetic doctor!

I hope my story may provide pointers on how proving a positive outlook to reducing complications can get you your strips and more.

If still can't get strips on prescription then shop around. Mine were 30 quid a box of 50 but then I got some in Tescos for half that. I have seen them on eBay for around the same price.
 
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